A destroyed residential building is seen in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (File photo)
US and Russian delegations have met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a partial ceasefire in Ukraine as efforts are underway for a quick end to the war.
The delegations met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday.
On Sunday, the US delegation met with the Ukrainian delegation, who stayed in Riyadh in case of any progress.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump agreed that the “movement to peace will begin” with a 30-day pause in attacks on the energy sites.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also agreed to a similar plan in regards to “energy infrastructure.”
The current deal includes a one-month ceasefire agreement with a revival of the 2022 Black Sea ceasefire agreement being on the table as well.
The Black Sea Initiative, a year-long agreement allowed millions of tonnes of grain and other food exports to be shipped from Ukraine’s ports.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff has voiced optimism that any agreement would pave the way for a “full-on” ceasefire.
“I think you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that you’ll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire,” he told Fox News.
But the Kremlin has downplayed expectations of a rapid resolution. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state TV on Sunday that “we are only at the beginning of this path and … there are difficult negotiations ahead.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday that it neutralized an armed Ukrainian drone near an oil pumping station operated by an international company.
The facility is part of the energy link managed by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) which includes major US oil companies such as Chevron and ExxonMobil among its stakeholders.
The ministry emphasized that the station was the intended target of the drone, and citied a prior attack against it in mid-February.
“The Kiev regime continues to plan, prepare, and execute attacks against energy infrastructure, including internationally-owned assets within Russia,” the ministry said.
Moscow said the incident is yet another violation of the US-mediated partial ceasefire agreement.